E. Guigal - Côte-Rôtie La Turque 2022

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Marcel and Philippe Guigal jointly run the successful family business, which since 2017 has expanded significantly in the south, to Châteauneuf-du-Pape (77 hectares of owned vineyards), supplemented in the spring of 2022 by the 100 hectares of Château d’Aquéria. And, as always, the rich portfolio of vineyards in Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, and Hermitage. Wine lovers can sample some of the valley’s greatest vintages, not to mention the brilliant Côtes-du-Rhône in all three red, white, and rosé varieties, and Tavel, Philippe’s favorite wine.

Decanter

About the wine:

This year’s La Turque is particularly dark, with aromas of black fruit, licorice, and smoke. Full-bodied, ripe yet fresh, the oak is well integrated. Rich in blackberry skin tannins and oak tannins, it is robust, very dense, and spicy on the palate. Powerful yet fresh, destined for long aging, it comes from vines on the Côte Brune, planted by Marcel Guigal in 1980 after having been abandoned since 1935. La Turque is a central part of the Côte Brune, covering less than one hectare. It will be aged for 40 months in new French oak barrels.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

In addition to its “treasures” in Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Condrieu, the Guigal estate owns two fine vineyards in Saint-Joseph: the locality known as “Saint-Joseph,” which gave its name to the appellation, and the Vignes de l’Hospice, planted on a very steep granite hillside, already identified by the monks of the Hospice de Tournon and featuring a geological formation similar to that of the famous Bessards hill in Hermitage.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

A leading figure in the Northern Rhône, Marcel Guigal is both a major wine merchant and a prominent winegrower. In the latter capacity, he cultivates famous vineyards in Côte Rôtie, such as La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne, not to mention La Doriane in Condrieu. A tireless worker with an insatiable intellectual curiosity, he succeeded his father, Etienne. Philippe Guigal, an oenologist and representative of the third generation, continues the family legacy alongside his father, maintaining this dual focus on estate-owned vineyards and wine trading. The winemaking for the northern appellations all takes place in Ampuis.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The most iconic winery in the northern Rhône Valley needs no introduction. Under this label, we bring together wines from our own vineyards, which we thus distinguish from our wine merchant operations. This includes the famous Côte-Rôtie trio: La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne; the first two are brand names, while the last is a registered terroir. Added to these are the Château d’Ampuis cuvée and the Condrieu La Doriane. In addition to these star wines, there is the Vignes de l’Hospice cuvée, a Saint-Joseph situated on a magnificent terroir, as well as several prime plots in Hermitage from which the Ex-Voto cuvée is produced. Marcel Guigal is firmly supported by his son Philippe, who seems to be gently shifting the style of the wines, with aging that strikes us as slightly less dominant. Needless to say, all these wines are built for long-term aging.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

A lively nose with red and black fruits, a distinct note of five-spice and star anise. It has density and power, superbly rounded tannins, and a deep minerality beneath the gravel—crushed violets lie discreetly hidden beneath a veil of oak, followed by a hint of licorice.

Vinous

About the wine:

The magnificent 2022 Côte-Rôtie La Turque exudes aromas of espresso, blackcurrant, black cherry, pencil shavings, crushed violets, and wood smoke. Dark and intense, this La Turque is remarkably charming, far more so than the more muscular 2019 or 2020 vintages. Nevertheless, the La Turque 2022 is structured by a complex network of tannins and is characterized by high aromatic concentration, with a complex finish and lovely length.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Darker and more introverted, the 2022 Côte Rôtie La Turque is characterized by aromas of blackcurrant, graphite, crushed stone, and liquid violet, with more pronounced notes of game, smoke, and black olives emerging upon aeration. Composed of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier, and aged for 42 months in new oak barrels, it has a more structured and concentrated profile than La Mouline, with full-bodied richness, impressive concentration, and a beautiful finish.